LOVES PARK — The Rockford Pro-Am will return to Rockford next year after 19 years at Forest Hills Country Club.

The Pro-Am moves to Rockford Country Club the next three years after 19 years at Forest Hills. This is the third move. The Pro-Am began at Elliot in Cherry Valley for three years before moving to RCC for 16 years. And it’s going to move again in another three years.

“We are going to start rotating every three years,” Pro-Am tournament director Judi Sheley said. “We will do a feasibility study about Mauh-Nah-Tee-See and Aldeen and look into continuing to rotate it with the other three clubs. But it will be on an every three-year basis, whether it’s with all four clubs or between Forest Hills and Rockford.

“It will be a shot in the arm. It gives people who don’t belong to Rockford Country Club a chance to see that course and see the pros play it.”

Sheley said the move is no reflection on the staff at Forest Hills. “They are pretty big shoes to fill,” she said.

The move will come one year before the Pro-Am’s latest agreement with Forest Hills runs out.

“My only disappointment is we had a three-year commitment and they are not going to honor it,” Forest Hills head pro Butch Pegoraro said. “But since this is my last year, I won’t be here next year anyway, so somebody else can worry about it.”

Sheley said RCC officials approached the Pro-Am board about the move. “The board is heavily weighted with Rockford members,” Pegoraro said. “It’s like nine or 10 to our three or four.”

Pegoraro retiring

Butch Pegoraro has been Forest Hill’s pro for 33 years. When he retires next year, he said he plans “to play a lot more golf.” He played only his sixth round of the year Sunday, but that one was memorable: he got to play with former Hootie & The Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker, who sang at the Pro-Am’s kickoff concert at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

“The three things I will miss are interaction with the people, teaching and the tournaments,” he said. “The rest of it, I will let someone else do.”

Guthrie takes title

Former-Illinois golfer Luke Guthrie was joined by Scott Langley, Robert Streb, Bobby Wyatt and Charlie Rymer as they won the morning best-shot scramble title, with amateur putter Stan Banas taking the honors on the green. Banas was one of those who bid for the putting spots the night before.

Page 2 of 2 - Kenny Perry’s team placed second in the morning competition, with amateur Jon Mitchell putting for the group.

Heavy bag

Reigning Women’s City champion and Lewis University golfer Melissa VanSistine served as her dad’s caddy.

“It’s my bag,” she said, “but these clubs weigh a lot more than mine. I am not prepared for this.”

She also said she might not be prepared for this week’s Women’s City. “My game’s at a little low point,” she said. “I am caddying; I can’t practice as much.”